Which is Better? IT Certifications or a Degree?

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Welcome to debt free in IT . My name is Mike this podcast is for anyone who's looking to get into IT, or anyone who's looking to switch up careers, and maybe come into the IT field. So, in this episode, we're gonna look at a topic that,

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you know, everyone has an opinion on, I'm just gonna give my opinion, and that certifications, or degrees. So if you should go get after a certification, or if it may be best for you to go and get a degree. Or you can go and get both. There's no no wrong way to approach this subject. So don't forget to like us and subscribe. If you know anyone that this episode may interest, please share it with them. So the first thing we're gonna go is I took down some notes. So the notes on my, my thoughts and everything on this topic. So the first thing is I'm gonna look at certifications, though with certifications, I got a couple points that kind of highlight some certifications. So the first thing is, they take less time to earn. So depending on the certification, you could possibly study hard for a couple of months,

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I have seen some where you may stay for up to six months, just depending on whenever you think you're ready to take that certification. For me, with the CCNA certification, I studied for about three or four months. Now, given that already was familiar with the topic already had the classes. And so it was just a refresher for me. So I was able to stay there for three or four months. And I was able to pass that certification. So that's why I'm plus about certifications is they do take less time than to go in now and get a two year degree or a four year degree, or even a higher degree. Another topic Oh, another thing about certifications is it's niched down to a certain technology. And a you get more specific training. So let's say if you're good trying to get into network department, or the networking field in it, so that CCNA certification pretty much says that you understand networking, and that you are capable of learning anything networking wise. So it gives you more of a specialization on that particular topic. And especially if you're if you got your sights on getting into the networking and networking role, such as a network technician, or network admin, or network engineer, getting that CCNA certification, or let's say let's take another certification Security Plus, you know, let's let your employer know that you're capable of learning security concepts, you're familiar with a lot of security terminology, you're you gotta get familiarity with just the whole security aspect. So then you have other certs, you have a lot of them, you have something like

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vSphere, where you have your VCP, you know, that pretty much indicates you're proficient with the vSphere, you're proficient with. A lot of that is virtualization. So it shows that you're proficient in that certain technology, which is a plus for standing out, especially when you're going for those type of roles. On to the next one is it proves that you know and understand that technology. So if you got a CCNA, like I said earlier, it pretty much lets the employer know that you understand that technology, you're capable of learning more, and that you got a good overall view of whatever certification that you have. Another one is that it helps you stand out from others on your resume. So once you get that certification, one of the positives is you can add that certification to your resume. And a lot of times most of us know that when you first submit to a lot of jobs, a lot of times it is computer or AI that may be sifting through those initial applications. And having that certification a lot of times is a maybe a key word, whatever position so if you're going for networking role, then that networking role may say they prefer someone to be certified with either CCNA CCNP CCIE or some sort of networking cert. So by having that cert on your resume is going to help that computer to pull your resume and then have a actual person to lay eyes on your resume and go from there. So

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win win there, so the next one is, it's less cost. So it's most certifications, most of the ones I've taken range from the $60 to three $400, I'm sure that there's some that costs more. But overall, it's going to be less cost than if he was going for degree, let's say you're going for a four year degree, which we know some of those can get up there and in the six figure range, so a certification is going to cost less. Then

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another one, which this is, probably one of the cons to a certification is that most of them expire. So most certifications CCNA, for instance, usually it expires within, I think two to three years. So that means every two to three years, you got to be studying to either get that same certification again, or you're gonna try to advance your career and get the next level up certification. So either you're gonna be studying for that CCNP, or you might be studying just to get the CCNA over again, another point where those certs they expire, depending on where you at in your career. So let's say if you already in a networking role, and you've been on that position for a couple of years, then depending on your employer, they may not care if your certification expires. So it may not be nothing to them if it expires because you've been doing the job. But it may be something where if you're looking to leave your company, where their certification is gonna matter, because if you're looking to leave, they might perfer the company you're going to, they may want you to have a active certification instead of an expired one. So most people that I know usually, if you get a certification, they usually try to keep it as though just because it may help them if they leave their current job and try to further progress their career. And

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my last one is that certifications is more suited for people that may have already have a basic understanding of the IT field. So if you're not a beginner, I'll say if you're intermediate, or maybe advanced, then a lot of times certifications is not going to be extremely impossible for you to learn and go pass the certification test. But I do see it being extremely harder. If you're coming from ground zero, and you don't understand nothing with IT, the only thing you understand is, how to turn on your computer and how to check your email, things like that. So if you that's all you understand, you may need to go ahead and try to go ahead and get a degree to try to get that overall understanding because certifications to me that more well suited for those that have some sort of knowledge beforehand before attempting that certification. So next, we're gonna go along to

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we're going to look at some of the perks and some of the cons for degrees. As always, if you find value in this episode, and you're listening via Apple podcast, please leave a review and let me know how I'm doing any tips or pointers if you have any questions, or if you disagree with what I'm saying, not saying that My way is the 100% way everybody have their own

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opinions. So if you think different, please leave it in the comment. So moving on to degrees. So one thing with a degree is you will gain more knowledge on that topic and you will be more  well rounded because with a degree you're pretty much gonna come in there gone is pretty much a degrees is assuming that you're at level zero so you're gonna come in, you're gonna have a IT essentials course, or a basic computer course that shows you the ins and outs of a computer, then from that, depending on your

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So it's gonna build upon the other. So you're going to be more well rounded plus, you're going to probably have some classes dealing with hardware support, meaning that you're learning how to break down PCs, how to put them together how to change out parts to your PC, you also may have some Linux courses, you know, you're gonna get a well rounded view of the IT field, and especially the field that that agreed the field that you want to go into. So you're gonna be more well rounded it. I think that's always a plus, especially if you're a beginner. So there may be a route going for a degree, which, most degrees, like I said, it's going to be to be a two year degree, four year degree or some other higher education masters, you know, whatever you want to pursue. From me on that subject, I kind of lean with the saying that if you want to be a manager in IT field, you need to at least go get that four year degree, if you just want to get in out to the field and may have a decent career to good, make money, things of that nature, then sometimes that associate is maybe all that you need. So the next thing, which is a plus for degrees is a degree lasts forever. So like I said earlier, with certifications, they tend to expire, there are some I've noticed that where someone may be grandfathered in, and there's don't expire. But overall, the majority of them, some of them, most of them is probably going to expire within a year or a couple of years. But long as you got a degree, that degree is never going to expire. So if you got a degree now 10 years from now, you're still gonna have that degree. So that's why plus side for degrees is that they never expire.

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The next thing is a degree can also help you stand out, I will say from let's say if someone's applying for a job with no degree, and no certification, and you have a degree, for that field, I think is going to put you a little bit above that, that other person just because of you have that degree.

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Also, it's going to give you more rep like especially if you came from a prestige school, you know that we most people know that, you know, you come from prestige schools, you know that school has a good track record with

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bringing out IT graduates. So you know, it's gonna help you stand out a little bit more. And then plus a degree, I think is real powerful when you take that degree, and then you also add that certification to that degree. So I think that even makes you a little bit more powerful, more valuable, and helps you stand out even more. So then the next point is

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have a busy life, hectic schedule, you know, now we have online schooling, which may be able to fit in your schedule and work well for you. But that like I said a degree is usually going to be to at least two years at the minimum. So you got to look at your schedule and see, can you devote time to this. So you're going to need time not just to attend the classes if they're in person, but or if they're online, you're gonna need time to finish the coursework for that class. So if you're taking a full load four classes, and you're trying to work at the same time, which is totally doable, you know, we all have to work get some income. But I think that, like said that that degree is going to take a lot of your time. So that may be a plus for some people may be a minus for some, but that degree, you're gonna have to devote time to it because some of your coursework may take hours to finish. And I say you're doing four courses. So you're going to be at least spending 15 to 20 hours a week just on classes. So that's a 1 point for degrees. And the last one, which to me is a minus for or a con four degrees is that they cost way more, you know, maybe you you can get out of not too much cost go into a two year for a two year degree at a community college, which I recommend. But if you're going for that four year degree or higher degree, I have seen people come out on a owing a arm and a leg to Fannie Mae, or what have you have always afford all of these student loans. So that's something to think about. Also, we're going to get your degree, you know, I'm not saying do not go get it, but you know, save if you make that choice, I say, please consider all of the facts and make sure that you're committed to It I wouldn't make that choice knowing that Oh, I might get in this. I might not like it

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And I might back out and I might quit and I still got all these loans to pay. So that's one thing to think about. So, that brings me to the end of this episode. Like I said, if you have any comments or questions, you know, please, you can email them at debtfreeinit@gmail.com. Also, if you're watching this on leave YouTube, leave a comment. I try to respond to all comments. If you're listening on Apple podcast, please review the podcast give me any tips or pointers that you think I should work on and get better, as we know, just starting out so everyone starts from somewhere so we all aim to try to get better at what we do. So like I said with that being said, like say any questions or comments, please leave them in the review section. Shoot me an email